Surface mount light emitting diode medical apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for relief of chronic and acute pain in tissue or arthritic joints and/or for promoting wound healing and human tissue growth can include a handheld housing supporting an array of light emitting diodes (LED) for application of light to a portion of a human body. The LED array can have a light output in a wavelength range of between approximately 630 nanometers to approximately 940 nanometers, inclusive, and a power intensity in a range of at least approximately 20 milliwatts per square centimeter. A control interface can be include buttons for controlling operation of the LED array, and a timer operable in response to pressing the buttons for delivering power to the LED array for a predetermined period of time. The control interface can include an over-temperature sensor operable to automatically turn off power delivery to the LED array when a sensed temperature is above a predetermined value.

1 . An apparatus for relief of chronic and acute pain in tissue or arthritic joints and/or for promoting wound healing and human tissue growth comprising: 
 a housing of sufficiently small size to be handheld;    an array of light emitting diodes (LED) supported by the housing for application of light to a portion of a human body; and    a user-friendly control interface supported by the housing for controlling operation of the array of light emitting diodes during application of light therapy treatment to the portion of the human body to be treated.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a light output of the array of light emitting diodes in a wavelength range of between approximately 630 nanometers to approximately 940 nanometers, inclusive.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a power intensity of the array of light emitting diodes in a range of at least approximately 20 milliwatts per square centimeter.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a direct current (dc) power input connectible to the housing for powering the array of light emitting diodes and the control interface.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 the direct current power input selected from a group of 12 volt power supply devices consisting of a plug-in alternating current (ac) powered supply, an automotive cigarette lighter adapter, and any combination thereof.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the control interface including a start button and a stop button integrated into a flexible label affixed to an external surface of the handheld housing.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the control interface including a timer operable in response to pressing a start button for delivering power to the array of light emitting diodes for a predetermined period of time.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 the predetermined period of time for the timer set at approximately 4 minutes.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a beeper for audibly signalling an end of a light therapy treatment to the portion of the human body to be treated.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one strap connectible to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the portion of the human body to be treated.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 hook and loop fasteners connected to opposite ends of the at least one strap for engagement with one another to hold the housing in a desired location with respect to the portion of the human body to be treated.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a heat dissipation member supported by the housing for removing heat from the housing.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 the heat disappation member selected from a group consisting of a heat sink, an electric powered fan, and any combination thereof.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 the control interface including an over-temperature sensor operable to automatically turn off power delivery to the array of light emitting diodes when a sensed temperature is above a predetermined value.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 an over-temperature indictor light supported by the housing for visually indicating an over-temperature condition, the over-temperature indicator light illuminated by the control interface in response to the sensed temperature above the predetermined value.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a remote start button operably connectible with the control interface for starting a light therapy treatment with a button locatable remote from the housing.    
   
   
       17 . A kit including an apparatus for relief of chronic and acute pain and/or for promoting wound healing and human tissue growth comprising: 
 a housing of sufficiently small size to be handheld;    an array of light emitting diodes (LED) supported by the housing for application of light to a portion of a human body, a light output of the array of light emitting diodes in a wavelength range of between approximately 630 nanometers to approximately 940 nanometers, inclusive, a power intensity of the array of light emitting diodes in a range of at least approximately 20 milliwatts per square centimeter;    a heat disappation member supported by the housing for removing heat from the array of light emitting diodes;    a user-friendly control interface support by the housing and having at least one button for controlling operation of the array of light emitting diodes during application of light therapy treatment to the portion of the human body to be treated, the control interface including a timer operable in response to pressing the at least one button for delivering power to the array of light emitting diodes for a predetermined period of time, the control interface including an over-temperature sensor operable to automatically turn off power delivery to the array of light emitting diodes when a sensed temperature is above a predetermined value; and    at least one 12 volt power supply device selected from a group consisting of a plug-in alternating current (ac) powered supply, an automotive cigarette lighter adapter, and any combination thereof.    
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a remote start button operably connectible with the control interface for starting a light therapy treatment with a button locatable remote from the housing.    
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 at least one strap connectible to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the portion of the human body to be treated.    
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a beeper supported by the housing for audibly signalling an end of a light therapy treatment to the portion of the human body to be treated.